Ace That Job Interview

A job interview is tougher to get these days and it is important to ace that job interview. With unemployment soaring, if you get an opportunity to go on a job interview it is very important to look professional as you want to make a good first impression. You have to remember the large number of people just waiting for the opportunity to interview for that same job. Interviews are very important to companies. Research shows that the organizations which spend more time recruiting high-caliber people earn 22% higher returns for their shareholders. Hiring is considered both an art and a science. They know the majority of the people exaggerate to get the job. Most hiring decisions are made by intuition during the first few minutes of the interview.

Of course, when you initially meet the person who will be doing the interview, make sure you stand, introduce yourself (yes, I know he has you application and knows your name), smile and shake hands if at all possible. The interviewer will usually ask you to sit and quite often in a particular chair. When you sit, make sure you sit up straight. If you are a lady in a dress or skirt it is best to keep you legs together and not cross them at the knee.

Before the interview it is a good time to get a wash-and-go style haircut, as they look tidy indicating you are ready to work. And for goodness sake you may be brilliant but if you are a blond make sure the black roots don’t show as this speaks volumes about your attention to detail. You want to wear a dress in a similar fashion as the other employees of the company, just look a tad more polished. Speaking of polish ladies, no extra long finger nails with designs and so forth. Stick to neutral lighter nail polish colors. Men just have your nails clipped and clean. This must seem trivial but most employers like a conservative look and little things can make a difference in the outcome of an interview.

A messenger bag rather than a purse looks good. A pen and pad says you are ready to work. A messenger bag also says I take work home, which in some jobs is very important. A purse says lipstick, compact, chewing gum, etc. There’s nothing wrong with those items but we are going the extra mile to get this job nailed down right now!

Stick with neutral clothing and for women a structured dress that ends just below the knees is excellent. It needs to fit properly. Employers do not want to hire people who wear skin tight clothes or have their cleavage hanging out

For men, an up to date suit if it is the type of job where a suit is called for, or a nice pair of pants that are the correct length, a neat shirt tucked in and a belt is the proper way to look for the interview. A nice knit shirt is also acceptable for a blue collar position. And, for men and women both, double check you clothes for spots. Drips of coffee or what ever can ruin your whole appearance.

Wear a watch as people that are on time always have one, and no one wants to hire someone that they feel will be frequently tardy.

As for jewelry, less bling is better. Do not wear long drop down earrings, a bracelet that clangs every time you move your arm or a necklace made of a cluster of rhinestones. This is a place of business and save those other doo-dads for fun, social events. Men leave the heavy necklaces at home and sometimes it’s better not to wear that earring depending on the atmosphere of the job source.

We can’t forget to mention our shoes! Certainly sandals, slip-ons, 5” heels, no sling backs. Again, you want to go conservative. For men, leather slip on or tie up shoes are appropriate. You wouldn’t want to wear tennis shoes unless the job was very informal.

For women, wear conservative makeup in your more neutral colors. Don’t wear eye shadow and keep your lipstick to a nice shade of some type of pink or coral, just not too dark. It sounds like you are ready to go!

One good interview tip is to look on the internet ahead of time and try to learn something about the company. That can be very impressive to the interviewer. Be prepared for the interview questions. Think ahead about the type of job interview questions you might be asked. You will be asked several questions about your past experience even though they have your resumé. Answer questions fully, but don’t over do it. Some questions just require a simple yes or no answer. For heaven’s sake, don’t chew gum!

You may be interviewed by more than one interviewer, so don’t let that surprise you. I had an interview one time with 5 women all asking me questions. Now, that was intimating! However, I got the job.

Just take a deep breath and think for a second before you say something your will regret. Smile, and talk with confidence to show them you are a fast learner and you have the experience to back it up. I think you are ready to go get that job now, so walk with confidence and impress the heck out of them.  I know you can ace the job interview.

The copyright to this article is owned by Pamela Oglesby. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.